Carnival Corp. said it has received three patents on
technology for its Ocean Medallion.
The medallions are wearable devices that work in tandem with
the Ocean Compass mobile app. The device can be used for keyless stateroom
access and to pay for items such as drinks and merchandise.
Medallion users also can track the whereabouts of family
members on the ship, access a real-time look at their itinerary along with ship
events and activities, and play casino and family games.
The first patent (U.S. Patent No. 10,037,642) was issued for
the medallion disc itself, which Carnival said contains proprietary communication
technology.
The second (U.S. No. 10,045,184) covers what Carnival calls
an Experience Internet of Things platform that "features an invisible
network of thousands of interactive intelligent sensors and embedded devices
mounted throughout the ship, as well as select ports, linking individual guest
and crew devices, shipboard software and hardware as well as synchronized cloud
computing to form a unified guest experience platform," Carnival said.
The third patent (U.S. No. 10,049,516) covers Carnival's "smart
door portal solution" that allows guests to seamlessly and securely access
their stateroom without the need for a room key or room card.
"To have our inventions recognized by the U.S. Patent
Office is a tremendous source of pride for the entire company," said John
Padgett, chief experience and innovation officer for Carnival Corp.
The Ocean Medallion is currently available on Princess
Cruises' Caribbean Princess.